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Hokitika Guardian, 1 April 1926, Page 2

As Anzac Day falls on a Sunday this year there is a movement afoot to have the "holiday” on the Monday. Wc are glad to see a strongly expressed opinion against such a proposal, for the Day is really a holy day and not a holiday. It is to commemorate the supreme sacrifice made by the Anzacs in the war, and it is thorforc not an occasion for holiday-making in the sense of merriment. So far the day has been oh r.'rved rigidly as it should, and we believe that in the life of the present generation with a knowledge of what the supreme sacrifice meant personally, t;,ere will he little concerted effort to change the observance of the Day. ,t is possible that in the future when a new generation controls events, the (lav iiiav bo less rigidly observed, but for the present the Government has passed a definite law and there .should not be any departure from it. We notire that tin? Canterbury Returned Soldiers’ Association arc adverse to any infringement on the observe nee of the Day, and fitting preparations are being mad? to observe tin* Day in the right spirit and in a manner becoming the solemn occasion. It is to be hoped the lead given in Christebureli will be observed universally throughout the Dominion. Tl,? Day is a solemn reminder of what war meant and the sacrifice which was called for to ensure safety for those who came after. Reverent gratitude should be expressed in the most solemn and sincere manner, and that, cannot, be done by turning the oeeasion into a day of pleasure—a mere holiday. It. i.s in cs-ence a holy day and should be observed as such. Out of regard for the momorv of the fallen

-a. very gallant host, whose sacrifice deserves to le recalled with all pleasure and pride, but in a spirit of humility altogether in keeping with so exceptional an occasion. A\c take, it that the Prime Minister, himself a returned man after distinguished service in action, will not he any party to any loose changes in tine observance of Anzac Day. anil for that reason quite expect that the 25th. April will he observed regularly on the calendar day. as a very solemn day of comimmoral ion.

It would appear that the Borough Council has a good ileal of trouble to late in tli.'j attempt to deal with storm water from the hack portion of the town. Instead of relieving the position. the latest pipe drains put in .seem to accentuate troubles of the past, indicating that the pipes laid are not of sufficient dimensions to carry off the flood water following an extraordinary rainfall. This is a matter which requires close examination, and suggests at once that the Council should err on the right side with the pipes to be laid in Sewell Street. It doss not appear from what is disclosed hy the Hall. Healey and Sale St. drains that the pipes proposed for Sewell Street drain are adequate, with the extraordinary flow which has to he encountered at times. The residents in the back area of the town have a grievance against the Council for the experience which now falls to their lot on the occasion of any ox Ira rainfall. The flooding of the 'grounds and premises is a serious matter to the residents, while the recurring cost to the Council for road scour and the like Hood damage must lie a material item. Ample experience has been afforded to demonstrate that in all future pipe laying the pipes should he larger titan those laid hitherto. Tt will he an evident mistake because of the serious risk t aloe it to go on with the Sewell St. scheme with the small pipes proposed. Tho Council will require to revise its methods with regard to works of the nature indicated. In any case the Council must look also for some remedy to meet the recurring flooding of the sections and roadway in the hack portion of the town as was experienced yesteday. . Tt is a serious condition for all Concerned, and the Council must accept the full liability for the present- position which is created largely hy the inadequate discharge provided for flood waters.